In the high-pressure, fast-paced world of morning television, five years can feel like a lifetime. But for Al Roker, the last five years have been exactly that: a fight for a lifetime.

This week, America’s most trusted weatherman and a beloved fixture on NBC’s Today show, marked a profound milestone: five years since the surgery that saved his life. Five years since he faced a diagnosis that stops millions in their tracks.

On November 9, 2020, Roker underwent a complex, five-hour surgery to remove his prostate after a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer. Now, half a decade later, he is sharing the update the nation has been waiting for. In a moment of gratitude and reflection, Roker confirmed his latest PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels are “negligible.”

The simple, powerful message he shared with the world? “All is good.”

But this five-year anniversary is not just a personal victory lap. For Roker, it is a call to action. With the relief of his own prognosis comes a heavy sense of responsibility, one he has carried publicly since the day he was diagnosed. His message is stark, urgent, and aimed directly at saving lives.

“To all the men out there, and the folks that love them,” Roker urged, “make sure you get your PSA checked, especially if you’re a man of color.”

This is the core of Roker’s journey. It’s a story that began not with a symptom, but with a routine check-up. It’s a story that proves advocacy is the silver lining of adversity.

The ‘Good News-Bad News’ That Halted Morning TV

Fans of the Today show will remember the moment on November 6, 2020. The familiar, beaming smile of Al Roker, who usually brings comfort and forecasts, was replaced by a look of human vulnerability.

He was 66 years old, and he had cancer.

“It’s a good news-bad news kind of thing,” Roker explained to a stunned audience and his visibly emotional co-hosts. “Good news is we caught it early. Not-great news is that it’s a little aggressive, so I’m going to be taking some time off to take care of this.”

The diagnosis came in September 2020 during a routine physical. His doctor had noted an elevated PSA level, which prompted an MRI and, ultimately, a biopsy. The results confirmed the worst. The man who had reported on countless storms was now facing the most personal storm of his life.

He immediately went public, a decision he did not take lightly. He understood his unique position as one of the most visible and trusted Black men in America. He also knew the terrifying statistics: Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, with significantly higher rates of both diagnosis and mortality.

“If you detect it early, this is a really treatable disease,” Roker insisted, already pivoting from patient to advocate. “And it’s why I wanted to take you along my journey.”

Days later, he was in the hands of Dr. Vincent Laudone at New York’s prestigious Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The surgery was a success, removing his prostate and several lymph nodes. The initial pathology reports were “terrific news,” showing the cancer had likely been contained. But Roker was candid about the reality of his future.

“I’m going to be up for,” he said at the time, “as a lot of people who live with cancer, lifelong testing to make sure this doesn’t come back.”

The Survivor Who Became a Thriver

Roker was officially declared “cancer-free” in May 2021, with his PSA levels becoming undetectable. But the cancer diagnosis was not an end; it was, as he would later describe, a “jump-start.”

The experience forced a profound re-evaluation of his health. It lit a fire under him, renewing his commitment to his physical well-being. This renewed focus manifested in one simple, daily act: walking.

Roker became a walking evangelist. He started posting his daily walks in Central Park, sharing his progress and encouraging his millions of followers to join him. This simple act of putting one foot in front of the other became a metaphor for his recovery. It was about resilience, consistency, and moving forward, no matter the weather. This personal mission soon evolved into the Today show’s “Start Today” walking challenges, a nationwide fitness movement with Roker as its chief motivator.

He turned his greatest vulnerability into a source of public strength. He was no longer just the weatherman; he was the man who showed up, who kept walking, who proved that a diagnosis does not have to be a destination.

The Battle Was Far from Over

To understand the emotional weight of this five-year cancer milestone, one must understand that Roker’s fight for his life did not end in that operating room in 2020.

In many ways, the battle had only just begun.

In late 2022, Roker disappeared from the show again. This time, it was not cancer, but a medical crisis so severe it shocked his doctors and colleagues. He was hospitalized for blood clots that had moved from his leg to his lungs. The situation was dire.

He endured two bleeding ulcers and a complex, seven-hour surgery that involved a colon resection, a gallbladder removal, and rerouting his small intestine. He missed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years. He missed the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. He spent months in and out of the hospital, his life hanging in the balance.

His wife, ABC News journalist Deborah Roberts, later called it the “scariest” period of their lives.

When Roker finally, triumphantly, returned to the Today show in January 2023, the studio was filled with tears of relief. He was thinner, and visibly shaken, but alive. He had survived again. Even after that, he faced another major hurdle in May 2023: a total knee replacement surgery, another grueling recovery.

This context is what makes his five-year cancer anniversary so profound. He is not just a man who beat prostate cancer. He is a man who has stared down death on multiple fronts and has clawed his way back each time. His “All is good” is not a casual sign-off; it is a declaration of survival earned through unimaginable struggle.

The ‘Why’ He Fights

Through it all, Roker has been defined by two things: his unwavering positivity and his deep love for his family.

When he speaks of his health battles, his “why” is never abstract. His fight to live was, and is, for his wife, Deborah, and his three children. In July 2023, that “why” took on a new, beautiful face. His daughter, Courtney, gave birth to his first grandchild, Sky.

This, Roker has said, is the ultimate gift of his survival.

“I’m so grateful I’m here to be able to see my first grandchild,” he has shared, his voice thick with emotion. “If there’s any reason to make sure you’re as healthy as possible, it’s that.”

His fight against cancer five years ago ensured he would be here for that moment. His continued fight for his health today ensures he will be here for all the moments to come.

As he marks five years of being cancer-free, Al Roker stands as a testament to more than just medical science. He is a symbol of resilience, a champion for proactive health, and a living reminder that even in the darkest storms, there is a path forward. His forecast for his own life is, thankfully, clear. And his forecast for others is a warning, and a hope: Get checked. Get checked today. Because, as he has proven, a life of milestones, and grandchildren, is worth the fight.